Motion picture reel



Dec. 27,

J. M. GOLDBERG ETAL 2,728,530

MOTION PICTURE REEL Filed May 11, 1953 I4 JNVENTORS.

Nuthun Gold berg Jacob M. Goldberg ATTORNEY United States Patent MOTION PICTURE REEL Jacob M. Goldberg and Nathan Goldberg, Denver, Colo.

Application May 11, 1953, Serial No. 354,045 9 Claims. (Cl. 242-55 This invention relates to motion picture film reels and the like. The main object of the invention is to produce a reel on which film can be wound and from which it can be unwound without injury to the film.

Heretofore, motion picture film reels have been provided with a core and hub unit,' integrally formed or rigidly connected together, and side flanges fixedly mounted on the core or core and hub to rotate therewith as a unit. The core usually is provided with a keyway for the purpose of receiving a spindle or tool for rotating the reel. Film being wound on the hub of such a reel is subjected to breaking strain due to the tension placed upon it by the starting of the rotative action of the reel as a whole. Likewise, the frictional engagement between the film edges and inner surfaces of the side flanges of the reel result in breakage of the film when it is being wound on or unwound from a reel in which the side flanges and the core are rigidly connected.

It has been proposed to non-rigidly mount the side flanges relatively to the core so as to allow some slippage between the hub and flanges, but this construction has not overcome the objections noted. The main object of our invention, therefore, is to produce a reel in which the side flanges are freely rotatable independently of both the core and the hub, and in which the core and hub are yieldingly connected together and capable of rotary motion relatively to each other.

An important advantage of our improvement is the fact that the rotary motion of the reel core is transmitted gradually to the hub on which the film is wound, so that sudden placing of tension on the film is avoided. Further, the side flanges automatically rotate with the hub or slip with respect to it, depending on the degree of frictional engagement between the inner surfaces of the flanges and the edges of the rolled film.

These and other advantages will be apparent from the drawings and following specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a motion picture film reel embodying our invention, with one of the two side flanges removed to expose one face of the core and hub, the other side flange being shown but partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken in the plane of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing both side flanges in place but partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, but on an enlarged scale.

In the preferred form of our invention shown in the drawings, the core is concentric in form, provided with a reduced neck portion 11 at opposite ends, centrally bored from end to end as indicated at 12, and having slots 13 disposed diametrically at opposite ends for the reception of a rotating key or tool (not shown). The slots 13 have parallel side surfaces 14 which extend from the solid center 15 of the core outwardly to the opposite ends of the core.

The core 10 is provided with a centrally located cir- 2,728,530 Patented Dec. 27, 1955 cumferential groove in which is fixedly mounted a flat ring 16 which extends radially beyond the core to provide means for mounting on the core the hub 17 on which the film (not shown) is wound. Said hub 17 comprises two identical members each consisting of a circular disc 18 centrally apertured to surround the core 10, and formed as shown at 19 to provide a space for receiving the ring 16 when the two discs 18 are in face to face contact as shown in Fig. 2. Each disc 18 has a peripheral film carrying surface 20 which extends from the disc at right angles thereto and terminates in an 'inturned edge or bead 21.

The discs 18 may be connected together by any suitable means after they have been mounted on the core at opposite sides of the ring 16. Thus the hub 17 as a whole is rotatably mounted on the core 10 midway between its reduced neck. portions 11, where it is prevented from moving axially of the core by the fixed ring 16.

The core 10 and hub 17 are yieldingly connected together by the following described means: A pair of coiled springs, preferably of the clock spring type, indicated at 22, are connected at one of their ends to the discs 18 of the hub 17. The connecting means shown is a pin 23 which extends through the two discs 18 and serves to connect both of the springs 22, one at each side of the hub 17, to said discs 18. The opposite end of one of the springs 22 is connected at 24 to a spring-tensioning ring 25' which is rotatably mounted on the core 10. The end of the other spring 22 is similarly connected to a spring-tensioning ring 25. The spring-tensioning rings are provided with an extension or ear 26 to accommodate the spring connecting means 24.

A pawl 27 is pivotally connected at 28 to the springtensioning ring 25, in such position that it engages one of the slots 13 of the core, so that when the core is being rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow on Fig. l, the spring-tensioning ring 25 will be rotated in the same direction and thereby wind up the spring and put increased tension thereon until it reaches the point of load resistance and then transmits the rotary motion of the core 10 to the hub 17, to provide a yielding but positive driving connection between the core and hub. Similarly, a pawl 27' is pivotally connected at 23 to the spring-ten sioning ring 25 to engage the other slot 13 of the core when the core is being rotated in the opposite direction.

It will be understood that the two pawls and springtensioning rings are alike, but mounted on opposite sides of the hub discs 18 so that one pawl locks its associated spring-tensioning ring to the core when the core is rotating in one direction and the other pawl locks its associated spring-tensioning ring to the core when the core is rotating in the opposite direction.

A pair of side flanges 29, circular and flat in form, are mounted on the core, one on each of the reduced necks 11 at each end of the core 10. They are retained by washers 30 or other suitable means which permit the side flanges to rotate freely on the core. In the drawing these flanges have been partially broken away, but it will be understood that they vary in size, to about 24 inches in diameter. In such a reel, the hub is approximately 5 inches in diameter and the peripheral surface 20 is wide enough to accommodate the film between the inner surfaces of the two side flanges 29.

Usually the side flanges are lightened in weight by providing a plurality of holes such as indicated in Fig. l, and the discs 18 of the hub 17 also may be provided with holes for this purpose.

When the core 10 is rotated in one direction by means of a motor driven or other tool engaging the slotted core, one of the pawls 27 or 27' will be in locking position, that is, it will engage the slot 13 in such manner that the spring-tensioning ring 25 or 25 to which it is attached the connection of the spring 22 to the spring-tensioning ring tand-hub disc. When rotation of the core 10 is reversed, the pawl on the other side of the hubbecomes operative to engage the slotted core, rotate the spring tensioning ring and put its spring 22 under increasing tension until it transmits rotary motion from the core to the hub 17.

The yielding connection between the driven core 16 and the hub 17 on which the film is wound eliminates sudden starting of the rotation of the hub in either direction, but after the gradual starting has taken Place the spring tension is sufiicient to provide a positive driving connection between the core and hub. Further, the side flanges are designed to rotate freely and independently of each other and the hub so that they may move with the film whenever the film edges frictionally engage the inner surface or surfaces of the flange or flanges. These features greatly-reduce or eliminate iniury to the film.

Changes may be made in details of construction and form of the parts, as well as in the relative dimensions of the several elements, without departing from the scope of our invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A motion picture film reel and the like comprising a rotatable core diametrically slotted at opposite ends, a film carrying hub rotatably mounted on the core, a ring loosely mounted on the core, a pivotally mounted pawl on the ring, said pawl engaging the slotted corc when the core isrotated in one direction, means yieldingly and drivingly connecting the hub and said ring, and side flanges mounted on opposite ends of the core.

2. A motion picture film reel and the like comprising a rotatable core diametrically slotted at opposite ends, a film carrying hub rotatably mounted on the core, a pair of rings rotatably mounted on the core within the hub, apivotally mounted pawl on each ring, one of said pawls engaging the slotted core when the core is rotated in one direction and the other of said pawls engaging the slotted core when the core is rotated in the opposite direction, means yieldingly and drivingly connecting the hub and each of said rings, and side flanges mounted on opposite ends of the core.

3. The motion picture film reel defined by claim 1, in which the side flanges are independent of each other and of the hub and are freely rotatably mounted on the core.

4; The motion picture film reel defined by claim 2,

in which the side flanges are independent of each other and of the hub and are freely rotatably mounted on the core.

5. A motion picture film reel and the like comprising a rotatable core, a film carrying hub and side flanges, said hub being rotatably mounted on the core, resilient drive means yieldingly connecting the hub and core for relative rotation thereof, said side flanges being freely rotatably mounted on opposite ends of the core and completcly independently rotatable in respect to the rotation of the hub, core and of each other.

6. A motion picture film reel and the like comprising a rotatable core, a film carrying hub and side flanges. said hub being rotatablymounted on the core, a drive connection between the hub and core for relative rotation thereof, said drive including a ring loosely carried by the core, means reieasably connecting the ring to the core for rotation therewith, resilient means yieldably connecting the hub to the ring, and said side fianges being,

rotatably taunted on opposite ends of the core.

7. The motion picture film reel defined by claim 6, in which the side flanges are independently freely rotatable in respect to the rotation of the hub, core and of each other.

8. A motion picture film reel and the like comprising a rotatable core, a pair of hub discs having film carrying peripheral members rotatably mounted. on the core, a hub centering ring fixed on the core, said ring retaining said discs on the core, resilient drive means yieldingly connecting said hub discs and core for relative rotation thereof, and side flanges mounted on opposite ends of the core.

9. The motion picture film reel defined by claim 8,

in which the side flanges are independent of each other and of the hub discs and are freely rotatably mounted on the core.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 2,058,438 Goldhammer Oct. 27, 1936 2,061,177 Tasker Nov. 17; 1936 2,l39.784 Wengel Dec. 13, 1938 2,271,326 Bird Jan. 27, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 200,759 Great Britain July 19, 1923 273,216 Great Britain June 30, 1927 775,517 France Oct. 15, 1934 

